Hygienic spray device for toilets



H. M. MERKEL. .m

Aug. 26, 1969 HYGIENIC SPRAY DEVICE FOR TOILETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1'7, 1966 INVENIOR.

HavnYM. Mama. )2

Aug. 26, 1969 H. M. MERKEL, JR

HYGIENIC SPRAY DEVICE FOR TOILETS Filed Nov 17, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M INVEN 1 UR HENRYM Manuel.

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United States Patent 3,462,766 HYGIENIC SPRAY DEVICE FOR TOILETS Henry Mynderse Merkel, Jr., Boynton Beach, Fla., assignor to Mentor Inc., Boynton Beach, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Nov. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 595,211 Int. Cl. A47k 3/22 US. C]. 47 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flush device associated with a commode and a water flush tank including a water discharge device affixed to the seat of the commode, a pump in the flush tank, a hot water tank mounted on the flush tank, and connected to the outlet of the pump by a conduit which has an anti-siphon aperature therein within the flush tank and also connected to the water discharge device, a heater element for the hot water tank, and electrical means including a manually actuated electrical switch operable to energize the pump and force cold water into the hot water tank to be heated and discharged through the water discharge device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a hygienic spray device for toilets and whereby to spray or wash the region of the anus.

The invention contemplates a spray nozzle that is supported upon the bottom of the seat of the toilet and with the spray nozzle additionally supporting a flexible rubber hose that is used either as an enema or as a douche.

The invention contemplates a mechanism that is disposed in association with the flush tank of a toilet and embodying pressurized pumping means that sets within the bottom of the tank and that is connected to a hot water storage tank and from the hot waterstorage tank, a flexible hose or pipe line is conneced to a spray head that is fixed to the bottom of a toilet seat at its rear portion and angled upwardly so that a spray of relatively hot water is directed toward the anus and below the margin of the opening of the commode.

The invention further contemplates the hot water storage tank to be supported upon one end of the flush tank of the toilet or possibly upon the top of the tank and with the heater element fitted into one end 'of the water tank and controllable by a thermostat and with a pump in he flush tank that is connected to the inlet end of the hot water storage tank and with an outlet pipe feeding from the hot water storage tank and connected with the spray nozzle of the commode seat so that the pump forces cold water to the hot water storage tank where it is heated by heater element and then discharged from the outlet pipe exending from the tank to force hot water to the spray nozzle and for discharge toward and against the anus area of the body.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will =be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a water closet .and a flush tank and with parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the several features of novelty,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a section at right angles to that of FIG- "ice URE 2 and taken substantially on line 33 of FIG- URE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, parts being broken away illustrating the housing for enclosing a warm water storage tank and associated mechanism, and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the warm water storage tank, parts being broken away for purpose of illustration.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1, there has been illustrated a conventional commode 5, having an open seat 6 hinged upon the top of the commode as indicated at 7. A conventional flush tank 8 is connected to the commode in the well known manner and with the flush tank having a rear wall 9, end walls 10 and a front wall 11, all being customary in a device of this nature.

Fixed upon the underside of the seat 6 is a preferably molded plastic water discharge device, indicated as a whole by the numeral 12. The water discharge device embodies a flat head 13 that is fixedly connected to the underside of the rear portion of the toilet seat 6 either by a gummed pad or by fastening screws 15. The discharge device 12 may be molded integral with the seat 6 in such instances where the seat is molded of plastic or other material. Depending from the head 13 is a generally rectangular body 16 formed integral with the head 13 and the lower end of the body 16 is preferably curved as indicated at 17. The body 16 is provided with an angularly disposed discharge opening 18, having a threaded bore 19 that communicates with a conduit opening 20. The conduit opening 20 communicates with a tubular plug 21 that has pressure engagement With a preferably plastic tube 22, that is fitted upon the outlet pipe 23, leading from the warm water storage tank 24, and with the pipe 23 within the tank 24 having an inlet end 25. Also extending into the tank 24 is a cold water inlet pipe 26, that has a vertical flight 27, a horizontal flight 28 and a diagonal flight 29, that terminates adjacent to a heater element 30. Water is forced into the warm water storage tank 24 through the pipe 26 that has a vertical flight 27, a horizontal flight 28 and a diagonal flight 29 that terminates adjacent to a heater element 30. Water is forced into the warm water storage tank 24 through the pipe 26, the water being heated by the element 30 and the water is pressurized from a relatively small sump pump 31, that is disposed within the flush tank 8. Water is drawn from the flush tank 8 and forced upwardly by the pump 31, through a pipe 32, to the pipe 26, which is the inlet to warm water storage tank 24.

Warm water storage tank 24 is mounted within an outer casing 33 and the casing 33, carrying the warm water storage tank 24 and associated elements may be hung by brackets 34 upon the end Wall 10 of the flush tank and outwardly of the flush tank.

Also mounted wtihin the casing 33, FIGURE 4, is a transformer 35, a thermostat 36 and a rectifier 37. The grounded 3-pole plu 38 and a coiled 3-wire conductor cord 39 leads from the source of 110 volt AC domestic electric current. One conductor 40 of cord 39 is grounded to the metal tank and transformer and conductor 41 of cord 39 is connected to one side of 110 volt electric immersion heater. Conductor 42 of cord 39 is connected to one side of thermostat mounted on warm water storage tank. Wire 43 connects other side of thermostat to 110 volt immersion heater. Thermostat is to maintain temperature of the water at degrees plus or minus 5 degrees. This completes the electric circuit for the warm water storage tank heater and thermostat. Wires 44 and 45 are primary leads of volts AC to the transformer which supplies low voltage to the immersed sump pump 31. Wire 46 is low voltage 12 volts AC to the rectifier 37. Wire 47 is 6 volts DC from rectifier to sump pump 31.

Wire 48 is the other low voltage 6 volt DC wire from the transformer to hand switch 49. Wire 51 from hand switch is the other wire to sump pump 31. The operator by pressing switch 49 actuates the pump to force water from closet flush tank 8 to the warm water storage tank 24 and outwardly from the pipe 23 to the spray device 12.

The threaded bore of the spray device 12 receives a threaded plug 50 that is beveled upon its forward end to receive a flexible hot water bottle hose to slip over plug 50 that could function as an enema or a douche attachment however, the plug 50 functions to force an arcuate spray to the anus area. The plug 50, while shown as being threaded into the bore 18, may obviously be molded integral with the spray device 12. The conductor 39 is a 3-wire conductor and the plug 38 is a 3-prong connector. The diagonal fli ht 29 of the pipe 26, at its upper end is provided with a relatively small aperture 52 whereby to prevent a siphoning action with respect to the water in the tank 8 and the pipe 30a leading from the pump 31 in FIGURE 1, passes over the rear wall 9 and its apex, is also provided with an anti-siphon aperture 53.

In the use of the device, the casing 33 is supported upon the end wall 10 of the tank 8 and the plug 38 inserted into a conventional socket having a voltage of approximately 110 volts. The pump 31 is supported within the tank and is coupled to the cold water inlet pipe 26 of the warm water storage tank, as before directed. Now, when the device is to be used as a flushing means for the anus area, or douche, the operator presses the switch 49 energizing the pump 31. Cold water is forced through the several pipes from the pump 31 to the lower section of the warm water storage tank through pipe 26, causing an equal amount of stored warm water to be discharged from outlet 23 through a plastic or rubber tube 22 to the bore 20 of the spray head 12, forcing a spray of warm water in a direction to wash or spray the anus area. When the switch 49 is released, the pump is de-energized but the heater element is constantly operating to maintain the water in the tank 24 at a temperature of approximately 95 degrees by the thermostat 36. The small warm water storage tank 24 has an anti-siphon hole 52 in the pipe 26 whereby to prevent the tank draining when it is layed on its back on the top of the tank 8. When the operator wishes to use the spray for purposes of an enema or douche, the usual flexible rubber hose commonly used with the hot water bottle is engaged over the plug 50 and then the pump actuated again by the switch 49.

The device is simple in construction, has relatively few parts, is strong, durable, cheap to manufacture and most effective as a hygienic spray device, for the anus area and/ or for douching or an enema.

This spray head is a vitalizing feature of this invention:

(1) Can be raised up when seat is raised keeping it clean.

(2) Can be fastened to existing seats or can be molded into new seat.

(3) To be able to slip the hot water bottle hose over the plug 50 so an enema or douche can be accomplished.

(4) Angle of direction of spray against the body is correct for proper washing.

Spray head nozzle is below rim of toilet to get proper angle for the spray to wash properly.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A flush device in combination with a commode and a water flush tank, the commode having a hingedly connected seat, said device including a water discharge device that is fixed to the bottom of the seat at its rear portion, a pump that is disposed within the flush tank and immersed into the water, a hot water tank that is suspended from one end wall of the flush tank and with the hot water tank being connected to an outlet of the pump by a conduit which has an anti-siphon aperture therein within the flush tank, the hot water tank also being connected to the water discharge device and with the hot water tank being provided with a heater element, electrical means associated with the hot water tank and with the heater adapted to be plugged into a Wall outlet of volts capacity, a transformer associated with the electrical means whereby to distribute a relatively low voltage current to the heater element and to the pump, and an electrical conductor for the heater element and the pump and with the last named conductor extending outwardly and around the tank and to a point adjacent the commode seat and with the conductor having a manually actuated electrical switch at its free end so that the operator can energize the pump to force cold Water into the hot water tank to be discharged from the hot water tank through the water discharge device.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein a metallic housing is supported upon an end wall of the flush tank and with the housing carrying said hot water tank that is connected to the pump with a flow pipe also connected to the water heating tank and with the water discharge device whereby the pump forces water from the flush tank into the water heating tank to be discharged in an arcuate spray to the anus area, a thermostat disposed within the electrical system and connected to a Water heater of the water heating tank and whereby the heater ele ment maintains the water at a constant temperature.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the inlet pipe from the pump forces water into the hot water tank and, as the cold water is forced into the hot water tank, the hot water is forced out of the tank through another connection and to the discharge device.

4. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the electrical means of 110 volts capacity embodies a three-wire conductor having a three-pronged plug that is adapted to be plugged into a wall outlet for a three-pronged plug, one wire of the conductor being grounded to the hot water tank, a second wire leading to a thermostat and a wire from the thermostat to the transformer and a threewire connected to the heater element for the hot water tank, a second conductor having two wires that leads to a switch adjacent to the user of the device and with one wire of the last named conductor being connected to the transformer and to the pump whereby the pump and the heater element are controllable by the switch on a reduced voltage, the heater element being constantly energized for maintaining the water in the hot water tank at a constant temperature, the hot water tank having an inlet pipe that is connected to the pump whereby to force cold water into the hot water tank and to force hot water from a second pipe connected into the hot water tank and that is connected to the spray device by flexible pipe, the cold water inlet for the hot water tank and the hot water from the tank being through tubular conduits and with the tubing at its uppermost point being provided with a relatively small aperture to prevent siphoning of the water from the flush tank, the tubing from the pump to the hot water tank extending upwardly and over the back Wall of the flush tank and with the tubing at the point of passing over the back wall, also being provided with an anti-siphon aperture.

5. The flush device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water discharge device includes a projecting head adapted to receive a hose.

6. A flush device in combination with a commode and a water flush tank, the commode having a hingedly connected seat, said fiush device including in combination a Water discharge device fixed to the bottom of said seat at the rear portion thereof, a pump disposed within said flush tank to be immersed in water therein, a hot water tank suspended from one end wall of said flush tank, said hot water tank bein connected to an outlet of said pump by a conduit which has an anti-siphon aperture therein within said flush tank, said hot water tank also being connected to said water discharge device, a heater element in said hot water tank, and electrical means for controlling said heater and said pump, said electrical means including a transformer connected to said heater and said pump for distributing low voltage current thereto, a plug connected to said transformer to be plugged into a wall outlet, said plug having a three-prong plug and three wires, one of said wires being grounded, a second one of said wires connecting a thermostat to said transformer, and a third one of said Wires being connected to said heater, and a second conductor having two Wires connected to a switch adjacent to the commode and to said transformer and pump whereby the pump and the heater are controllable by said switch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,977,758 10/1934 Epler 47 2,094,170 9/1937 Heald 47 2,875,450 3/1959 Umann 47 3,247,524 4/ 1966 Umann 47 PATRICK D, LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

